DEAR DOG OWNER,
OWNING a dog clearly brings companionship, and healthy activity, for dog owners.
There's nothing better than taking your dog for a walk on a sunny autumn day, and where better to walk than along one of the piers in Newlyn Harbour, to soak up the atmosphere, see what boats are in, which ones need repainting, where new boats have come from?
The tang of the sea in your nostrils revives the flagging spirit, the ageless sight of fishermen going about their business brings a sense of reassurance in the continuity of life, the timelessness of it all.
It's a time to gather your thoughts about the day, the working week, life in general.
Meanwhile, your dog does what all dogs do: sniff around, mark their territory, urinate on the odd coil of rope lying around; urinate on piles of fish-boxes; on anything that springs to mind. As you gaze out to sea, they may leave a deposit somewhere you haven't spotted. Job done, dog walked, all is well with the day.
But fishermen will handle the rope; pick up the fish-boxes, move their gear. There won't be a label or a warning notice saying: "This item is soaked in dog urine," so they'll go about their business, stop for a sandwich, eat a pasty, handle fish.
Later in the evening, it's time for the last dog walk of the day. As you pick your dog's mess off the pier (and thank you for being responsible), others may not do so.
Some scoop it into the harbour; some walk on quickly if no one is watching. Or they may follow the contemporary practice of bagging the dog mess, then leaving it for someone else to pick up.
And when they lie in bed the next morning, fast asleep, fishermen are tying up, landing their fish, going about their work, unaware of where dogs have done what dogs do.
So what is the point of this letter? To remind everyone who uses the harbour, particularly dog owners, that Newlyn Harbour is a place where food is handled every day of the week.
Fish are landed, boxed, transferred to the market, sold. When you go to any food store to buy food, you take it on trust that whoever is serving you has not, unknowingly, handled equipment soaked in dog urine, or been exposed to dog's mess in some way.
The same applies to those who make their living from fishing here in Newlyn. They need to work as cleanly and hygienically as they can.
Dogs are simply not allowed on Newlyn Harbour property, not at any time, not on any pier, full stop. All the signs are there, and they are there for a reason.
We now have to consider strict enforcement. We want residents and visitors alike to enjoy the harbour, but not at any cost.
Your's could be one dog too far.
Yours sincerely, NEWLYN HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS